Woman sued over faked death of man to appear on Judge Mathis Friday

The story of a Springfield woman who allegedly faked her partner's death to get out of paying back a woman who loaned her money will appear Friday on the Judge Mathis show.

The News-Leader first reported the story in September, after a false obituary had run in the paper. Later that month, it became clear that the man in the obituary had been unaware of the alleged scheme.

Linda Hart, of Ridgedale, originally sued Jacqueline Scott, of Springfield, in small claims court in Taney County, but dropped that case and went to the Mathis show after producers reached out to her, she said.

The petition filed in Taney County says Scott told Hart she was having “numerous mishaps” with her daughter, her car, and someone using her boyfriend’s identity to buy a Cadillac. Scott also lamented she had to spend $900 on an attorney and was late on a mortgage payment.

Hart said in the complaint that Scott failed to pay her back several times as planned, causing Hart to call Scott to press for the money. That's when Scott allegedly began to spin the tale of the false death.

“She said that night on his way home (Pottle) pulled over to help someone change a tire and was hit by a car,” the petition says, adding that Scott called back and said, “he died Tuesday morning in St. Louis.”

On May 16, an obituary for Pottle ran in the News-Leader.

“Sean is not dead,” the complaint says, “and they have no intention of paying me back.”

Hart said she won the case on the Judge Mathis show, and received the $1,600 she was seeking from Scott.

Judge Greg Mathis posted from his Twitter account Tuesday a "Clip of the Week" featuring Hart and Scott.